Method for the synchronization of control functions with video signals in a television receiver and device for the implementation thereof

Abstract

A device which comprises a memory memorizing, in addition to the RGB components of the digitized video signal and one bit per pixel for the usual control of fast blanking activating the display of characters, at least one bit per pixel for the control of the recording, on a video cassette recorder, of sub-titles but not of menus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for the synchronization of control functions with video signals in a receiver, said method comprising the steps of: providing data which defines elements of at least part of a video image, each element being coded on P bits;   scanning said data to provide a first video signal;   associating an insertion control bit with each of said P bit elements to form P+1 bits wherein said insertion control bit controls a display signal function to be performed on said first video signal;   adding L bits to said P+1 bits wherein both P and L are at least equal to 1 and wherein said L bits define at least a recording function which is a function distinct from said display signal function and which recording function is to be performed on said first video signal.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first video signal is provided by a synthesis video signal generator associated with the receiver. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the synthesis signals generator comprises a character generator. 
     
     
       4. A method for the synchronization of control functions with video signals according to claim 2, wherein: said scanning is controlled to be synchronous with a second video signal,   video signal recording means are associated with said television receiver,   a first insertion of said first video signal into said second video signal is controlled by said control signal corresponding to said insertion control bit, the resulting video signal being destined to be displayed by said receiver,   a second insertion of said first video signal into said second video signal is controlled by the control signal corresponding to one of said L bits, the resulting video signal being destined to be recorded by said video signal recording means.   
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said one of said L bits is set to one when said data corresponds to subtitles. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said recording function comprises control in an insertion of said first video signal into a second video signal, the resulting video signal being output to a video recorder. 
     
     
       7. A device for the synchronization of control functions with video signals in a television receiver, said device comprising: a memory comprising an output connected to control apparatus for the control of said functions which require synchronization with said video signals,   a character generator connected to an input of said memory,   a line counter and a column counter receiving vertical and horizontal synchronization pulses and addressing said memory,   a decoder connected to the output of said memory and producing first video signals, a first control signal and at least a second control signal from data read from said memory,   said control apparatus comprising a first and second combining device each of said first and second combining devices receiving said first video signals and second video signals, wherein said first combining device is controlled by said first control signal and is connected to a display device and wherein said second combining device is controlled by at least one of said second control signals, the output of said second combining device being connected to an input of a recording device which is separate from said display device.